The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-01
XLIXth CONGRESS- SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.


Canadian waters, declaring itself in favor o
retaliation to the extent of denying to Cana
dian.veSselS in American ports the right Il
purchase supplies, and the eventual eXclu
sion of all Canadian products by land or sei
until the offensive legislation and action o.
the Canadian authorities are discontinued
Referred to the committee on foreign rela
tions.
A bill was reported and placed on the cal
endar for the construction of a building fol
the use of the officers of the House of Rep
reSentatives.
Mr.. Beck introduced bill to amend the
national banking laws. Referred.
Mr.. Harris presented joint resolutions O
the Tennessee Legislature, in favor of an
appropriation for the worlds fair of colored
industry at Birmingham, Alabama. Refer
red.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered resolution calling
on the Secretary of the Treasury for re-
port as to whether any national banks are
l0anlng money or discOunting notes and re-
fusing payment in gold coin only. Adopted
Mr.. Blair gave notice that on "wednesday,
Feb. 10th, he would ask the Senate to consid-
er the resolutions as to the life and charac-
ter of the late Senator Pike.
The Senate then proceeded to the consider
alton of the sundry civil and appropriation
bill. The total amount appropriated by the
bill for public buildings is about S1,500,000.
AT 3 o'clock the railroad attorneys bill was
laid before the Senate as unfinished business,
butiit was informally laid aside, and the sun
dry civil bill proceeded with.
Mr.. Allison spoke at considerable length,
denouncing the action of the House in re-
ducing the appropriations which he consid-
cred false economy. He declared the appro-
priations for the coast survey should not be
reduced, as that service was of vast import
ance. This service would be SO crippled un-
der the. appropriations as passed by the
House, that if they were to be adhered to it
would be better to abandon the work alto
gether. That office had been always carried
on by men of the highest scientific attain
mentS until some time ago, when q $1,000
treasury clerk was appointed. and now was
at its head, at a salary of $4,000. He was
bound to say for this gentleman that he had
shown in the business management of the
Office an ability far beyond what could have
been expected. Turning to the partisan
questions involved, he referred to the tabula-
ton contained in the Presidents last annual
message, showing saving of $17 100000 in
public expenditures in 1886, as compared
with 1885. He had analyZed the figures, and
had found, for instance, these results Of
S587, 900 saving in legislative expenses, over
S50O,QO0 represented the difference between
the judgments of the Court of Claims in
1885 and 1886. As to the saving of S10,000,-
600, in the State Department, $3,300O00 Of
the amount was for judgments of Alabama
Claims Commission in 1885 none in 1886,
and $S00000 of it was for French claims
l.
department. was made up of a number of
items, and among them was an item of near
ly $3,000,000 charged to the sinking fund of
the Pacific Railroad in 1885, as against about
$780, 900 in 1886. Another was an item.for
the reimbursement Of importers, $1,414, 900
less in 1886 than in 1885, and another was
for drawbacks, which in 1886 amounted to
only 100000 as compared with 81 ,500, 600 in
1886 AS to the reduction of $9,0000 900 in
the War Department. Sc, 100000 represented
the river and harbor work in 1885 more than
that in 1856 Was that fairly to be charged
to Republican extravaganza The rest of
the saving was made up of different items,
which did not depend at all on the current
administration of the War Department, such
as the refunding to States and territories un-
-der--the act OF July q, 1882. As to the re-
duction of expenditures in the Navy De-
partment, $1.200,000 represented what was
spent in the construction of vessels in 1885
more than in 1886. 1t was not true, there
fore that the present administration was any
more economical than the former adminis-
tration. and it was not true that the Senate
had In former years appropriated more than
was necessary for the ordinary expenses of
the government; at least it was not more re-
sponsible for it than the House of Repre-
sentatives was.
Mr.. Hawley expressed his very great dis
appointment that the superintendent of the
coast survey for the first time in its history
was not gentleman of high scientific at
tainments. In fact, he was not a scientist at
all. That was a most extraordinary de-
parture from the uniform practice. 1t was
great administrative mistake, and he hoped
1t would not be continued.
After further discussion the reading of the
bill was resumed.
In the course of discussion on point of
order, Mr.. Edmunds expressed (parentheti-
callyl the hope that the Senate would pro-
vide Tor 100 new cruisers.
After disposing of sc pages of the bill, out
OF 1O4, the Senate, at 5.05 o'clock, adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Lawler of Illinois presented the fol-
lowing preamble and resolution in the House
to-day:
Whereas, The belligerent tone of the Canadian
press and the announcement that Great Britain
will shortly despatch fleet of war ships to cruise
dicate hostility toward the United States, grow.
ing, ont of our position on the fisheries question
and
Whereas, Admiral Porter has directed atten-
ton to the fact that 81 of our Atlantic, Gulf and
Pacific harbors are absolutely defenceless and IL
Of them to wit: New York San Francisco, Boston,
the Lake Ports, Hampton Roads, New Orleans,
Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Portland
and the Rhode Island ports of Narragansett Bay,
are in urgent need of Immediate defence, and
Whereas, 1t is alleged that Great Britain and
Canada are in possession OF charts and examplih-
cations of all our harbors and coast defences
Resolved, That the President be requested, as
of the army and navy, TO in
form the House of Representatives at an early
day what steps, If any, are necessary in his judg-
ment to prepare for this emergency.
Mr.. Bragg of Wisconsin, suggested that it
was unwlse to advertise to an enemy our un-
protected positions.
The resolution was referred TO the commit
tee on appropriations.
Mr.. Boutelle of Maine submitted resolu-
ton directing the committee on foreign
affairs to report back forthwith the Senate
retaliation bill.
Mr.. Lowering of Massachusetts, presented
the resolutions of the Massachusetts legisla-
ture in favor of the retaliation bill.
By Findlsy of Maryland for the protection
of persons employed on vessels enrolled and
licensed by the United States.
By |. j. Bampbell of New York, increasing
to $4,000 the salaries of Supreme Court
justices and Cabinet officers.
BY Mr. Merriman of New York, providing
fer the issue of United States coin notes.
By Mr.. Grain of Texas, a resolution pro-
posing constitutional amendments chang
ing the Inauguration day to the last Tues
day in April; providing that the 50th Con-
gress shall terminate on the 31st of Decem-
Der, 1888, and the 51st Congress shall then
begin, and providing that Senators whose
term OF office would not expire until March
A, 1889, shall continue in office until their
successors are appointed or elected.
BY Mr.. Breckenridge of Kentucky, to in
ulpuIdtc INC AHtIlcd1 ASSOcldLlOu OIL Ill6
Red Cross.
By Mr.. McRae of Arkansas, prohibiting
members OF Congress acting as attorneys or
employees for railroad companies holding
charters or having grants of lands or pecu-
mary aid from the United States. Referred.
Mr.. Singleton of MASSACHUSETTS,, from the
committee on printing, reported back the
Senate concurrent resolution for the appoint
ment Of a joint committee to take into con-
sideration the expediency of holding an in
ternational exhibition in 1892 in commemora-
tlon of the discovery of America. Referred
to the House calendar.
Mr.. Wilkins of Ohio, from the committee
on banking and currency reported back adj
yersely the resolution calling ON the Secre-
tary of the Treasury for information as to
whether national banks in New York city
recently took action tending to tighten the
money market. Laid on the table.
=, Ihe House then went into committee of
tne whole on the agricultural appropriation
Dlll. An amendment was adopted providing
that the board of commissioner Of agricul-
Imre shall be in the penal sum of 5000.
Inc Dill was then reported to the House and
passed.
The House went into committee of the
whoie on the bill to consolidate certain
bureaus of the Navy Department. Mr.. Her.
pert OF Alabama explained that the chief OBJ
lect OF the bill was to consolidate under one
mead the bureaus concerned in the building
and equippmg of ships.
Mr.. Buck of Connecticut offered an amend
ment permitting the Secretary of the Navy
to transfer material and stores from one
bureau to another when he shall deem it
necessary.
Pending action the committee rose and the